State Rep. Laura Devlin (Fairfield & Trumbull) was a participant at the Women’s Business Development Council’s (WBDC) 2nd annual “Women-Owned Business Day at the State Capitol,” an event sponsored by the WBDC and the Permanent Commission on the Status of Women.
“Seeing all these women business owners today at the State Capitol is encouraging,” said Rep. Devlin. As a business owner, WBDC client and a legislator, I have great respect and appreciation for the work WBDC does to empower women to start and grow thriving businesses in our state.”
In a packed room full of women entrepreneurs, Devlin joined the WBDC for networking and a discussion with state and national leaders about the economic influence women-owned businesses have in the state.
“It’s essential that the state of Connecticut continues to foster a collaborative relationship with women business owners and prospective women entrepreneurs; more businesses mean more jobs for our state,” said Rep. Devlin.
Devlin, who owns and runs a strategic communications consulting business, said the event highlighted the many challenges business owners must overcome, such as access to funding.
Topics discussed at the State Capitol WBDC forum included: Access to lending and training and education as well as federal contracting for women and other key policy issues facing small businesses in Connecticut.
As of 2013, there are more than 8.6 million women-owned businesses in the United States while generating more than $1.3 trillion in revenues and employing nearly 7.8 million people.
The event’s keynote speaker was Amanda Brown, the executive director of the National Women’s Business Council (NWBC). Amanda most recently was the National political director for Rock the Vote. She is a Forbes 2014 30-under-30 recipient and has previously served as an advisor for Strategic Planning to the U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Steven Chu.
The WBDC is host to two U.S. Small Business Administration organizations (Office of Women’s Business Ownership and Women’s Business Centers) that educate and prepare clients through business and financial workshops as well as one-on-one coaching and training programs to help women and men grow their business ideas to the next level.